Bodice structure



Jan.. 29, 1952 A, 1 TAGLIERO 2,583,716

BODICE STRUCTURE Filed Bed. 3l, 1947 Patented Jan. 29, `1952 BODICE STRUCTURE AlbertoJacinto Tagliero, Buenos Aires, Argentina Application December 31, 1947, Serial No. 794,916 In Chile January 3, 1947 Y 2 Claims.

l The present invention relates to a new type of bodice and has for an object to provide means affording a yieldable support of the breasts without exerting thereon compression or traction,

which may bedeleterious for their natural form l or for a womans health.

' The invention contemplates as one of its important features the arrangement of breast-supporting members, which in turn are held by the bodice proper which encircles the wearers body, such supporting members being constituted by an arcuate or halfmoon shaped segment made of semi-rigid and flexible material embracing the lower portion of the breast and projecting forwardly follow exactly the contour or con'guration of the breast; the breast will thereby be supported in a natural yielding manner, without being subjected to any compressional forces by the bodice; for the purpose of covering the breast portion, a part made of fabric is employed which is supported by the bodice proper in such manner as to freely cover the breast portions Without exerting undue strain thereupon.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide means insuring rm position of the supporting members relative to the breasts, straps being provided for holding said supporting members at both ends thereof; means being further provided for adjusting the strap lengths and elastic (whalembone) reinforcements for maintaining the vertical rigidity of the bodice proper.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into practice, the same has been represented by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a perspective viewbf the bodice ac cording to the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the supporting member forming the essential part of the invention. Y

Figure 3 is a plan view of the stifiening memu ber imparting the necessary resilient strength to the supporting member.

Figure 4 is a vertical and diagrammatic section of the front portion of the bodice according to Figure l. l

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the bodice proper shown in developed form.

Figure 6 is a detail view, as seen from` the front of the breast cover together with part of the bodice.

In accordance with the drawing, the bodice according to the invention is designated by numeral I, and is made of adequate fabric or any other Ysuitable flexible material, capable of adapting itself to the body of the wearer. This bodice is made to be buttoned or otherwise closed in order to firmly encircle the Wearers body. At the portion corresponding to the breast, said bodice is formed with two symmetrical recesses 2 surrounding the lower part of the breast and at the edges dening said recesses there are fastened the supporting members 3 constituted each by a half-moon shaped surface adapted to normally receive thereon the lower peripheral part of the breast. In the example shown, the supporting member comprises a half-moon shaped porti-cn made of double fabric forming a pocketshaped structure in which a half-moon shaped resilient stiffening segmenti is inserted, made cf a sheet of both resilient and substantially rigid material, such as for instance, Celluloid, galalith cr similar materials. For theV purpose of inserting said segment 4 into the pocket structure 3, an opening 5 is provided in one of the fabric sheets of the latter, as clearly shown in Figure 2. This arrangement permits of readily inserting or removing said segments when the garment is to be cleaned.

The bodice I is arranged to hold, as shown, the supporting members 3 and is itself supported by the straps 5 extending from the beit 'I oi the rear portion of the body to forked-off front portions 8 of said straps ending each in one of the portions of the bodice adjacent to the ends of said supporting members. This arrangement will keep said supporting members iirmly in their arcuate shape due to their being fastened to the recesses 2 ofthe bodice and to the forkedoff portions of the straps.

The bodice I comprises a breast-cover 9, made of tulle or other light mesh fabric which does not disturb the support of the breast and thus `can neither be compressed nor deformed, said breast-cover being sewn or fastened by buttons or in any other appropriate way to the recess 2 of the bodice or in the lower portion of the support 3, and to the end of the strap 6, preferably by means of a button and button-hole, as disclosed in I0, or by any other convenient means. In this way, said breast-cover may be readily detached for cleaning purposes.

The straps and their forked-off ends 'have adjustment means formed by buckles I I. The connection between the strap and the forked-off portions 8 is preferably effected by means of a ring member I2 in order to give more freedom of movement.

A further detail in the manner of fastening the bodice to the wearer-s body is related to the lock connecting at the back both ends of the belt 'I of the bodice; said ends are finished each by a resilient portion I3 of V-shape, the one being provided with a hook I4 and the other carrying a buckle l5 to engage said hook.

Another important detail of this bodice consists in the arrangement vof flexible whale-bones or equivalent members I6 inserted in sheaths or pockets I1 crossing straps arranged to cross between said supporting members 3. Said whalebones or similar reinforcing inserts will aid in stretching the bodice in a Vertical direction, without thereby disturbing the flexibility of the wearers body. The sheaths or pockets containing said whale-bones or similar inserts will serve as a reinforcement for the bodice at the portion where the pull of said straps is greatest, whereas said whale-bones or similar inserts will vertically stretch the garment precisely Where it is most necessary, i. e. in a sense in which the upper ends thereof are kept in an uplifted position, where the ends of the recesses at which the supporting members are attached and also the adjacent ends of said supporting members are located.

The advantages of the bodice according to the vinvention consist in affording a rest for the breast in such manner that the portions of the latter will keep their true anatomical position in a yielding manner, without exerting tractional or oompressional stresses thereon, since these stresses will have deleterious effects upon a womans health.

In fact, the breast will rest with the lower part upon the supporting member 3 which has the necessary stiffness as Well as sufcient flexibility, for lkeeping the breast in a yielding manner without hindering any small movements required for adapting this part to the different changes of position of the body, inasmuch as the breast is comparatively free to move by its front portion and upper portion, which portions are only protected and prevented from becoming completely free of the support, due to the breastcover 9, made of light tulle fabric, and acting to protect, to conceal and to freely keep the breast in a normal position with regard to the supportingmember. Said supporting members are in turn firmly held, as stated above, by the bodice which is to be properly adjusted to the wearers body. With regard to the straps, these, as stated hereinbefore, keep the supports exactly at the required height, to which effect there are provided adjustment members Il, without exerting any discomfort upon the breast. l The bodice according to the invention may be made of any suitable fabric the supporting member insert being made, as stated, of a flexible material having a certain stiffness inherent thereto, such as for instance, Celluloid, galalith, or other plastic materials.

Regarding the shape of the bodice proper, this Y 4 may be made either to surround the whole body of the wearer, or to encircle it only partially, provided the necessary extensions are comprised to surround the wearers body and be attached thereto, it being only essential to have the front portion. serving as a holding part for the supports.

It is evident that the present invention is not to-be limited to the embodiment described and disclosed in the drawing, its scope being clearly defined in the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

l. A breast supporting bodice having shoulder straps, comprising, in combination, two breast supporting members of substantially half-moon shape spaced one from the other and arranged to engage the lower periphery of the breasts of the wearer, each of said supporting members being formed of two sheets of pliable material secured together at the edges thereof to provide a pocket therebetween, a half-moon shaped resilient stiffening member extending into said pocket to position said breast supporting member substantially perpendicular to the body of a wearer, crossing straps connected to said shoulder straps, a piece of material Vfor encircling the wearers body, said supporting members and said crossingr straps being secured to said piece of material, said crossing straps including strap portions crossing between said supporting members and extending toward the lower edge of said piece of material, said strap portions being provided with pockets therein, and substantially rigid reinforcing inserts arranged for position in said pockets of said strapportions.

2. A breast supporting bodice according to claim 1, wherein covering means is detachably secured to the crossing straps and tothe breast supporting members, said covering means being arranged for substantially loose and yielding engagement with the breast above said supportin members.

ALBERTO JACINTO- TAGLIERO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references 'are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS France Oct. 24,' 1939 

